A crowded House of Commons listened in silence, both to the statement by the Prime Minister and to the response of the leader of the opposition on the issue of the riots that have been scarring so many of our cities over the past week. There was complete cross-party unity in criticizing the unacceptable levels of sheer criminality and mindless violence that have made innocent people homeless and destroyed thriving businesses upon which so many local communities are dependent for employment and services. There was also complete unity that the perpetrators of this violence should feel the full weight of the law.

Tributes were paid to the police and all the emergency services but serious questions were raised as to whether the initial police response of treating the rioters as some form of social disorder had been correct, and at what stage the police began treating their behaviour as the criminality it turned out to be. It was also pointed out that those who engaged in these criminal acts are by no means representative of all young people in this country. What the rioters in fact represent is the kind of behaviour which this country totally rejects, and will not tolerate. The underlying issues which were touched on, again cross-party, as to why these events took place are - as Ed Miliband said - for future examination. He also highlighted that to explain is not to excuse. Pleas for the Government to readdress the police cuts came from all sides of the House but the Government appears unwilling to change their economic decisions.

There was support for all those who have lost their homes and businesses and agreement that financial aid should begin to flow to them immediately. In the midst of all this turmoil, however, Parliament did show today that we can all speak in the national interest rather than just the party-political interest.